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Post by kymahalei on Jul 22, 2010 11:23:53 GMT -6
It's well known that good readers make good writers. Every now and then one of the writers on this site will let slip a book that they've read and I usually find it to be an excellent read. (Oshun's recommendation of The King Must Be Killed comes to mind.)
For myself, I just finished reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. It's gritty, but it is an awesome tale set in the midst of the plague of 1666. She's a stunning storyteller, but what I enjoyed the most was her ability to build a character and set them into a believable character arch then, when the reader has just gotten comfortable with a particular POV, she slips in a new bit of information about the character that doesn't negate anything that she has said so far, but that totally reverses or changes the readers perception of the character. I loved it!
Anyways, I was wondering what books you've read that have fed your writer's muse lately? This post does have an ulterior motive, 'cause I'm hoping to find some more good books to read!
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Post by elfscribe on Jul 23, 2010 23:15:33 GMT -6
It's well known that good readers make good writers. Every now and then one of the writers on this site will let slip a book that they've read and I usually find it to be an excellent read. (Oshun's recommendation of The King Must Be Killed comes to mind.) For myself, I just finished reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. It's gritty, but it is an awesome tale set in the midst of the plague of 1666. She's a stunning storyteller, but what I enjoyed the most was her ability to build a character and set them into a believable character arch then, when the reader has just gotten comfortable with a particular POV, she slips in a new bit of information about the character that doesn't negate anything that she has said so far, but that totally reverses or changes the readers perception of the character. I loved it! Anyways, I was wondering what books you've read that have fed your writer's muse lately? This post does have an ulterior motive, 'cause I'm hoping to find some more good books to read! I think it's a great idea to have a recommended book column. Those look interesting. Even though I'm sacrificing my reading time these days in order to find time to write. Mmmm, so many books, so little time. I just recently reread Fall of the Kings for the third time. It's by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (who our esteemed Oshun has met in person - ask her about it, go on). I love this book more each time I read it, the mark of a good one. It's got everything I love: a well thought out fantasy world that instead of taking place in a pseudo-Dark Ages England, it unfolds in a time closer to the Elizabethan period. Ellen and Delia are world-builders in the Tolkien manner. The world has upper and lower classes, ancient history that influences the present, Celtic Deer Kings and their wizard lovers, a wonderful university full of scholars and academic backbiting and intrigue, a very hot relationship between a young nobleman and a professor, myths and legends that come alive in the present, a lesbian pirate captain, a spy working for a powerful lord, an artist devoted to her art at the expense of her subjects, plus a great, exciting plot with lots of strands. And yes, the love relationship is hot with wonderful (but discreet) love scenes. I mean what else could you want? One of the things I really like about this world which is first revealed in Ellen Kushner's novel Swordspoint, is that sexual orientation is of no concern to the people, whether rich or poor, laborer or lord. People can be het, bi, or gay, and it's no particular occasion for remark except if the lover is unsuitable in rank. If this review interests you at all, I'd recommend reading Swordspoint first, then Fall of the Kings or Privilege of the Sword. Chronologically in story time Privilege comes after Swordspoint, but Ellen wrote it last. There is a very small but lively fan community devoted to it and should anyone be interested, Oshun and I would be happy to point you to it. Both of us also have fic *buffs fingernails on vest* and I'm sure we could be induced to give you links, should you desire. Okay, next . . . |
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Post by russandol on Jul 24, 2010 3:59:26 GMT -6
If this review interests you at all, I'd recommend reading Swordspoint first, then Fall of the Kings or Privilege of the Sword. Chronologically in story time Privilege comes after Swordspoint, but Ellen wrote it last. There is a very small but lively fan community devoted to it and should anyone be interested, Oshun and I would be happy to point you to it. Both of us also have fic *dusts fingernails on chest* and I'm sure we could be induced to give you links, should you desire. I am half way through the conversion - have read Swordspoint (beautiful, fascinating, gripping, all of them and more), then The Privilege of the Sword (what a fun read, as well as a great plot and thought provoking scenes!). Now I am waiting for The Man with the Knives to arrive from the States - fingers crossed, by Friday - to read it before I bite into The Fall of the Kings, which everyone says it's the best. I have thoroughly enjoyed them so far, and I just love Alec of many names Tremontaine. So, I am after those pointers for fics, please... (already watching LJś "riverside"...)  |
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Post by randy on Jul 24, 2010 10:13:28 GMT -6
Well, for me recently, it was Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. It gave a jolt to my muse that has been sadly lacking lately. Currently, I'm re-reading Norman Mailer's Ancient Evenings, which is more or less about Ramses II. I want to smack either him or his editor for getting the past tenses of lie/lay mixed up. I had expected better out of a writer of Mailer's calibre and era. I don't think this one will inspire my muse -- his m/m action is all about power and dominance. But then again, so is the het action. That could just be Mailer.  |
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Post by elfscribe on Jul 24, 2010 14:51:35 GMT -6
I am half way through the conversion - have read Swordspoint (beautiful, fascinating, gripping, all of them and more), then The Privilege of the Sword (what a fun read, as well as a great plot and thought provoking scenes!). Now I am waiting for The Man with the Knives to arrive from the States - fingers crossed, by Friday - to read it before I bite into The Fall of the Kings, which everyone says it's the best. I have thoroughly enjoyed them so far, and I just love Alec of many names Tremontaine. So, I am after those pointers for fics, please... (already watching LJś "riverside"...) Well, just to warn you, there are those who adored Swordspoint who weren't as pleased by Fall of the Kings. I loved them both for different reasons, but imho, Fall is richer and better plotted. I think people weren't as happy with Basil/Theron as they were with Richard/Alec. You'll have to decide. Oh and as far as links, pleased to offer mine. You'll have to bug Oshun for hers. Windfall is my version of how Richard and Alec meet. Cernunnos is a Fall of the Kings drabble, Besotted and other drabbles are from Swordspoint. Here: archiveofourown.org/users/elfscribe/works?selected_tags[]=108816 |
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Post by elfscribe on Jul 24, 2010 15:03:11 GMT -6
Well, for me recently, it was Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. It gave a jolt to my muse that has been sadly lacking lately. Currently, I'm re-reading Norman Mailer's Ancient Evenings, which is more or less about Ramses II. I want to smack either him or his editor for getting the past tenses of lie/lay mixed up. I had expected better out of a writer of Mailer's calibre and era. I don't think this one will inspire my muse -- his m/m action is all about power and dominance. But then again, so is the het action. That could just be Mailer. I've never read Rebecca. What was it that kicked your muses? I started reading one book of Mailer's, don't remember what it was, and was quite put off by his writing himself into the narrative as the main character. Talk about a self-insert and an ego! I haven't tried him again. Life's too short. And lie/lay errors are something one frequently encounters, not only in fandom but in published writing. One of these days, I'll write the story I had in mind making fun of it. |
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Post by kymahalei on Jul 24, 2010 19:40:52 GMT -6
Thanks for the link! O.M.G. I just spent the evening reading Oromedon's Lessons. It's an amazing bit of writing and I loved it. I just finished reading Fire From Heaven I see bits of Renault woven in, but your own unique style is there as well. You've got a great sense of balancing all of the myriad elements that make a story compelling. The texture of your writing is complex and vivid. You handle delicate and destructive situations with a confidence and clarity that really sucks the reader in. I'll get back to Swordspoint in time, Elfscribe. I need some time to process Oromedon's Lessons first. |
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Post by randy on Jul 24, 2010 22:46:31 GMT -6
The way Du Maurier handles the misunderstandings between the husband and the young wife and the three wicked plot twists right in a row is a joy to behold, even when you know that's coming.
What kicked off my muse this read-through was focusing on the behavior of the husband, Maxim. The way he calmly sticks his head right into a noose to call the bluff of a blackmailer. It took stones, and I decided he needed a better ending than other people have given him. I also had a little go at psychoanalyzing the first wife, Rebecca.
Mailer -- gah! It isn't one of those books I take joy in re-reading every so often.
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Post by elfscribe on Jul 25, 2010 16:42:40 GMT -6
O.M.G. I just spent the evening reading Oromedon's Lessons. It's an amazing bit of writing and I loved it. I just finished reading Fire From Heaven I see bits of Renault woven in, but your own unique style is there as well. You've got a great sense of balancing all of the myriad elements that make a story compelling. The texture of your writing is complex and vivid. You handle delicate and destructive situations with a confidence and clarity that really sucks the reader in. I'll get back to Swordspoint in time, Elfscribe. I need some time to process Oromedon's Lessons first. Thank you so much for the kind words, Ky. I'm very pleased you enjoyed it. It's one of my favorites too. I haven't read Fire from Heaven in a long, long time. They just read it with commentary on maryrenaultfics and I was tempted, but didn't. However, the sequel in the Alexander series, The Persian Boy, is one of my all-time favorite books ever. (In case you couldn't tell from O's Lessons. LOL) So, if you haven't read The Persian Boy, and are looking for stuff to read, I highly recommend it. |
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Post by kymahalei on Jul 25, 2010 17:47:16 GMT -6
However, the sequel in the Alexander series, The Persian Boy, is one of my all-time favorite books ever. (In case you couldn't tell from O's Lessons. LOL) So, if you haven't read The Persian Boy, and are looking for stuff to read, I highly recommend it. I'm off to do some shopping at Amazon. Your story got me hooked and your recommendation requires action! |
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Post by kymahalei on Jul 25, 2010 17:51:59 GMT -6
The way Du Maurier handles the misunderstandings between the husband and the young wife and the three wicked plot twists right in a row is a joy to behold, even when you know that's coming. I got Rebecca out of the library and was a bit put off by a whole book of wordy sentences. I'll get it out again and have another go. I love twisted plots and I did enjoy your Songe d'Automne. Maybe I'll get hooked on something new. |
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Post by Gandalfs apprentice on Jul 25, 2010 19:30:54 GMT -6
I'm one of those people who liked Swordspoint and didn't like Fall of the Kings. IMHO, Fall read like a workable first draft, the writing didn't hang together, and the story was juvenile. Privilege was a most welcome return to the excitement of the first volume.
I've just finished hearing The Great Gatsby on tape and am just amazed at what a great novel it is. It is so beautifully put together, so well written, and so moving that you know you will find something new each time you read it.
Before that I read Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna and have no words to describe how fabulous it is. I cried at the end. Can't recommend it too highly. And magical in its own way, though not fantasy. It is about a writer who gets drawn, rather by accident, into politics and is witchhunted during the McCarthy period. Half of the book takes place in Mexico.
Another book I read recently that was just unbelievably good was Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, a fictionalized story of Thomas Cromwell (of Henry VIII fame).
I'm moving on now to The Tin Drum. Will keep you posted....
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